Innovations in Hardware Security: Leveraging FeFET Technology for Future Opportunities

As digital threats grow increasingly sophisticated, advancements in hardware security are paramount. Ferroelectric Field-Effect Transistor (FeFET) technology stands at the forefront of these innovations, leveraging unique properties to enhance security measures. By integrating ferroelectric materials with traditional FETs, FeFETs exhibit non-volatile memory behavior, making them ideal for diverse security applications. A notable application of FeFETs is in Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). PUFs utilize the inherent variability in Fe- FET manufacturing to create unique and unclonable identifiers, essential for secure authentication and key generation. This ensures each device is distinct, providing a robust foundation for modern security protocols. FeFETs also significantly improve random number generators (RNGs). The natural randomness in ferroelectric polarization switching generates high-quality random numbers, critical for cryptographic applications. FeFET-based RNGs offer superior entropy sources, vital for secure encryption keys and various cryptographic operations. In this talk, we will explore how FeFETs can implement compact and ultra-efficient logic-in-memory operations such as XOR, XNOR, and multiplexing (MUX). These operations are key elements in building logic-locking schemes that secure intellectual property (IP). The ability to perform these Boolean functions within the memory structure enhances security by protecting the hardware from unauthorized access and tampering. In conclusion, FeFET technology opens doors for innovative solutions to bolster hardware security, addressing critical challenges and unlocking new opportunities in secure computing.